Amended in Assembly April 13, 2016

Amended in Assembly March 28, 2016

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 2306

Introduced by Assembly Member Frazier

February 18, 2016

An act to add Section 51225 to the Education Code, relating to high school graduation.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2306, as amended, Frazier. High school graduation requirements: pupils transferring from juvenile court schools.

Existing law prescribes the course of study a pupil is required to complete while in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, in order to receive a diploma of graduation, and authorizes the governing board of a school district to prescribe other coursework requirements that are in addition to the statewide requirements.

This bill would require a school district to exempt a pupil from all other coursework requirements for graduation adopted by the governing board begin insert of the school district end insert that are in addition to the statewide coursework requirements for graduation, unless the school district makes a finding that the pupil is reasonably able to complete the additional coursework requirements in time to graduate from high school. begin insert The bill would require the school to which the pupil transfers to provide notice to the pupil and specified other parties of the availability of the exemption and whether the pupil qualifies for the exemption. end insert The bill would also require a county office of education to issue a diploma of graduation to a pupil who completes statewide coursework requirements for graduation while attending a juvenile court school, as specified. By placing additional requirements on school districts and county offices of education, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

Section 51225 is added to the Education Code,
to read:

51225.  

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, for a pupil who at
any time after he or she completes 10th grade transfers to a school
district from a juvenile court school, the school district shall exempt
the pupil from all other coursework requirements for graduation
adopted by the governing board of the school district that are in
addition to the statewide coursework requirements specified in
Section 51225.3, unless the school district makes a finding that
the pupil is reasonably able to complete the additional coursework
requirements in time to graduate from high school.

(b) If a pupil completes the statewide coursework requirements
for graduation specified in Section 51225.3 while attending a
juvenile court school, the county office of education shall issue to
the pupil a diploma of graduation and shall not require the pupil
to complete other coursework requirements that are in addition to
the statewide coursework requirements.

begin insert

(c) (1) Within 30 calendar days of the date that a pupil who
may qualify for the exemption from local graduation requirements
pursuant to subdivision (a) transfers into a school, the school
district shall notify the pupil, the person holding the right to make
educational decisions for the pupil, and the pupil’s social worker
or probation officer of the availability of the exemption and
whether the pupil qualifies for an exemption.

end insert begin insert

(2) If the school district fails to provide timely notice pursuant
to paragraph (1), the pupil shall be eligible for the exemption from
local graduation requirements pursuant to this section once
notified, even if that notification occurs after the termination of
the court’s jurisdiction over the pupil, if the pupil otherwise
qualifies for the exemption pursuant to this section.

end insert

SEC. 2.  

If the Commission on State Mandates determines that
this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to
local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made
pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division
4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.